NameCensus.

UK surname

Hanbury

An English surname derived from a place name meaning "high or chief court".

In the 1881 census there were 528 people recorded with the Hanbury surname, ranking it #6,497 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 728, ranked #7,474, down from #6,497 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Michaelstone-super-Avon and St Marylebone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Neath Port Talbot, Wigan and Amber Valley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hanbury is 733 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 37.9%.

1881 census count

528

Ranked #6,497

Modern count

728

2016, ranked #7,474

Peak year

2013

733 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hanbury had 528 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,497 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 728 in 2016, ranked #7,474.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 662 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hanbury surname distribution map

The map shows where the Hanbury surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Hanbury surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Hanbury over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 288 #7,884
1861 historical 418 #6,146
1881 historical 528 #6,497
1891 historical 559 #6,792
1901 historical 616 #6,930
1911 historical 662 #6,345
1997 modern 620 #7,967
1998 modern 653 #7,879
1999 modern 653 #7,923
2000 modern 658 #7,865
2001 modern 642 #7,873
2002 modern 681 #7,677
2003 modern 673 #7,628
2004 modern 658 #7,762
2005 modern 661 #7,679
2006 modern 687 #7,479
2007 modern 682 #7,590
2008 modern 696 #7,521
2009 modern 721 #7,460
2010 modern 707 #7,724
2011 modern 699 #7,701
2012 modern 699 #7,616
2013 modern 733 #7,470
2014 modern 721 #7,598
2015 modern 708 #7,652
2016 modern 728 #7,474

Geography

Back to top

Where Hanburys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Michaelstone-super-Avon, St Marylebone and Alfreton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Neath Port Talbot, Wigan and Amber Valley. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 1
2 Michaelstone-super-Avon Glamorganshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
5 Alfreton Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Neath Port Talbot 011 Neath Port Talbot
2 Neath Port Talbot 017 Neath Port Talbot
3 Wigan 009 Wigan
4 Neath Port Talbot 018 Neath Port Talbot
5 Amber Valley 004 Amber Valley

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Hanbury

These lists show first names that appear often with the Hanbury surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Hanbury

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hanbury, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Hanbury surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Hanbury household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Hanbury is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hanbury is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hanbury falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hanbury is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Hanbury, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Hanbury

The surname Hanbury has its origins in England, specifically in the county of Worcestershire. It is derived from the Old English words "hana" meaning "rooster" and "byrig" meaning "fort" or "town". This suggests that the name may have been originally associated with a place where roosters were kept or bred.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Hanebyri". This record indicates that the name was already in use during the 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the name was often spelled in various ways, such as "Hanbury", "Handbury", and "Hanbery". These variations reflect the fluid nature of spelling conventions in those times.

The name Hanbury is also associated with several place names in England, such as Hanbury in Worcestershire and Hanbury in Staffordshire. These place names likely influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

One notable figure with the surname Hanbury was Sir John Hanbury (1664-1734), a wealthy merchant and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Monmouthshire. Another prominent individual was Benjamin Hanbury (1778-1864), a British botanist and philanthropist who established the Hanbury Botanical Gardens in Italy.

William Hanbury (1725-1778) was a prominent Quaker and industrialist who played a significant role in the development of the Staffordshire Potteries. His son, Capel Hanbury (1756-1818), followed in his footsteps and became a successful potter and businessman.

Reverend William Hanbury (1808-1894) was an English clergyman and writer who served as the vicar of Huish Episcopi in Somerset. He was also a notable historian and author of several books on the history of Puritanism.

Lastly, Beatrice Hanbury (1913-1958) was a British author and playwright who wrote several novels and plays, including "The Foolish Gentlewoman" and "The Harlequinade".

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Hanbury families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hanbury surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 123 Hanburys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.38x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 123 2.38x
Surrey 44 1.75x
Glamorgan 36 4.01x
Derbyshire 34 4.21x
Worcestershire 34 5.05x
Kent 31 1.76x
Staffordshire 31 1.78x
Monmouthshire 30 8.04x
Lancashire 29 0.47x
Warwickshire 22 1.69x
Devon 17 1.58x
Herefordshire 12 5.67x
Sussex 12 1.38x
Wiltshire 11 2.41x
Leicestershire 10 1.75x
Yorkshire 8 0.16x
Berkshire 6 1.55x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.72x
Shropshire 5 1.12x
Essex 4 0.39x
Lanarkshire 4 0.24x
Suffolk 4 0.64x
Norfolk 3 0.38x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.64x
Hampshire 2 0.19x
Northamptonshire 2 0.41x
Somerset 2 0.24x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.21x
Bedfordshire 1 0.37x
Cheshire 1 0.09x
Hertfordshire 1 0.28x
Royal Navy 1 1.63x
Westmorland 1 0.88x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Alfreton in Derbyshire leads with 30 Hanburys recorded in 1881 and an index of 122.25x.

Place Total Index
Alfreton 30 122.25x
St Marylebone London 26 9.44x
Michaelstone Super Avon 23 236.38x
Kingswinford 19 30.04x
Hackney London 17 5.88x
St George Hanover Square 17 18.70x
Oldbury 13 39.20x
Birmingham 12 2.77x
Islington London 12 2.40x
Brighton 11 6.27x
Camberwell 9 2.73x
Coventry Holy Trinity 9 23.16x
Hulme 9 7.04x
Shobdon 9 1343.28x
Upperswinford 9 157.89x
Fulham London 8 10.69x
Aberavon 7 84.64x
Bexley 7 44.96x
Enfield 7 20.67x
Gorton 7 12.16x
Highworth 7 120.07x
St Pancras London 7 1.69x
Tedburn St Mary 7 619.47x
Chelsea London 6 3.86x
Croydon 6 4.30x
Llanvihangel Torymynydd 6 2068.97x
Risca 6 85.35x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 5.78x
Teston 6 1052.63x
Tormoham 6 13.20x
East Langton 5 1162.79x
Ewell 5 94.16x
Melton Mowbray Welby 5 5000.00x
Mynyddyslwyn 5 33.97x
Sheffield 5 3.07x
Tipton 5 9.37x
Briton Ferry 4 37.31x
Glasgow 4 1.35x
Kensington London 4 1.39x
Lewisham 4 4.26x
Nottingham St Mary 4 2.22x
Saffron Walden 4 37.17x
Southwark St Saviour 4 15.08x
Swindon 4 11.30x
Westminster St Margaret 4 16.07x
Abergavenny 3 21.47x
Battersea 3 1.58x
Bedwellty 3 4.56x
Burford 3 394.74x
Clapham 3 4.65x
Crayford 3 39.01x
Denver 3 202.70x
Deptford St Paul 3 2.21x
Great Bolton 3 3.70x
Little Bolton 3 3.81x
Llanvihangel Pontymoile 3 454.55x
Maidstone 3 5.72x
Manchester 3 1.09x
Sunninghill 3 55.87x
Wolverhampton 3 2.24x
Worcester Blockhouse 3 81.08x
Worcester St Michael 3 384.62x
Clipston 2 162.60x
Georgeham 2 148.15x
Hampstead London 2 2.49x
Ipswich St Margaret 2 9.38x
Lambeth 2 0.44x
Neath 2 10.94x
Paddington London 2 1.05x
Penshurst 2 67.57x
Reigate Foreign 2 7.34x
Richmond 2 5.68x
Sandhurst 2 26.67x
Shepperton 2 87.72x
Wednesbury 2 4.59x
Wellington 2 17.76x
Westminster St James 2 3.77x
Wolves Newton 2 666.67x
Worcester St Martin 2 22.00x
Yardley 2 11.60x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hanbury surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Hanbury surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 29
Thomas 17
William 15
George 10
James 10
Arthur 8
Charles 8
Henry 8
Alfred 6
Walter 6
Frederick 5
Herbert 5
Robert 5
David 4
Edward 4
Joseph 4
Thos. 4
Samuel 3
Albert 2
Benjamin 2
Edmund 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Jeremiah 2
Martin 2
Reginald 2
Sydney 2
Wm. 2
Ashley 1
Barclay 1
Capel 1
Carrado 1
Caryl 1
Chas 1
Christopher 1
Daniel 1
Edgar 1
Ellis 1
Evan 1
Everard 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Gideon 1
Gurney 1
Harry 1
Hubert 1
Ingham 1
Langton 1
Lionel 1

FAQ

Hanbury surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hanbury surname in 1881?

In 1881, 528 people were recorded with the Hanbury surname. That placed it at #6,497 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hanbury surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 728 in 2016. That gives Hanbury a modern rank of #7,474.

What does the Hanbury surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name meaning "high or chief court".

What does the Hanbury map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hanbury bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.